Melton Scholars

The Melton Scholars program pairs accomplished undergraduate students with business analytics and statistics faculty members to actively pursue academic research. Recipients receive funding and course credit for two semesters during their senior year while they conduct an original research project. By the time they graduate, they will have submitted a paper to an academic journal, presented at a research conference, and/or converted the research into cutting-edge instruction.

Applications

Scholars apply for the program in the spring, and they are chosen based on:

how well they have done in business analytics classes,

how well their projects mesh with faculty members’ current research interests, and

their future plans after graduation.

Qualified applicants are interviewed by the program’s faculty lead and their potential faculty advisor to gauge ultimate suitability. Scholars are notified by the end of the spring semester of the award so that any necessary preparations can take place over the summer.

Our Benefactor

The Melton Scholars program is made possible because of a generous contribution by George Melton. Melton is a Tennessee native, born in Maryville, and a graduate from Red Bank High School in Chattanooga. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in statistics from UT in 1968. George met his wife Margaret (Peggy) at UT in 1967, and they are celebrating nearly 50 years together.

After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corp, including spending one year in Vietnam, George enjoyed a successful 43-year career in the aerospace and defense industry, which included executive positions with Allied-Signal, Tracor, BAE Systems, EG&G and Wyle Inc.

Since graduating from UT, George has lived in New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Texas, and now lives in Ojai, California He is eager to support the university and to enrich students' lives at UT by providing the opportunity for undergraduates to form meaningful connections with faculty members. These types of interactions are relatively rare at UT, and students would not have had access to this opportunity without Melton's generous donation.